A Hawker Hunter?
 

Yesterday evening ~17:00 hrs I was driving south on the A1 past the village of Reston, Scottish Borders. Two aircraft crossed in front of me at about maybe 600 or 700ft altitude, flying in a roughly N to S direction. The nearest of the two aircraft looked like a Hawker Hunter, didn't get a close look at the other one.

I'm pretty certain it was a Hunter, as I used to play rugby on a pitch near the end of R28 at Lossie in the early 1970's, over the switch period between HMS Fulmar/RAF Lossie. Often saw Hunters both with and without the orange training markings in those days.

Are there any Hunters still flying, or do any NATO Air Forces fly a lookalike, or should I consult an optician/head doctor?

Thanks folks.

Hunters.
 

There are still airworthy Hunters around. Some down at Kemble in Oxfordshire and possibly Exeter Airport - used to be certainly re Ex. Maybe one or two at Bournmouth, Hurn?

Head Doctor might not be needed...............just a wee glass of Highland Park.

TN.

Yep, there are quite a few Hunters still flying, in civilian hands.

Indeed, two from Hawker Hunter Aviation (ex Swiss AF F58s) were given MoD serials (ZZ190 and ZZ191 - not sad enough to know that outright, had to google it. Honest...) as part of a contract HHA won to support trials or training (I forget which) and I think that is still ongoing.

(HHA have a dozen or so F58s, and the way things are going, may find themselves doing QRA as part of a PFI deal....)

Lebanon have started operating their Hunters again...search `airliners.net`

Maybe we should send them to Cyprus to back up the one Typhoon we have left. There is JP5 in a field near Bristol Airport. Bit of spit and polish, we can send that too......................

TN

Thanks folks.
 

Thanks for the replies folks. Head doctor appointment is cancelled, I'll try the Highland Park alternative at the weekend!

Here's a picture to look at whilst you enjoy that Scotch - these 2 are on the UK register...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3048/...a2a7117a85.jpg

Great pic! I wonder if the glut of ex-RAF Hawk T1s which will hit the market in the next few years will bring about the demise of the various Hunter operations (in 'working' mode at least, rather than purely for displays).

Type 45 trials - one of them has taken to wearing 'Royal Navy' titles. Last single seat jet to do so!

Do the RNHF still fly the Sea Hawk ?

..Single seat and in Navy colours.

Ah! Memories of that classic of all fighters low level through the glens of Scotland and the valleys of South Wales...

No need to spend millions on Close Air Support training and/or development, as with Typhoon, the Hunter FGA9 proved itself very quickly to be fit-for-purpose and ready to go at comparatively very short notice...

Team Viper have at least five airworthy Hunters at Exeter, doing Airshow stuff this year. The RNHF most certainly do have an airworthy Sea Hawk in Navy colours, and very beautiful it is too!.
Not so long ago, maybe 9 years, the 50th Anniversary of the Hunter was held at Kemble. There was a formation of 15, yes 15 privately owned Hunters in the display, and a glorious sight it was!!

That's good; one complete squadron plus three in reserve!

Gents

Hunter Flying do operate a large number of Hunters from Exeter and Team Viper display team fly five Hunters. Anyone interested in seeing the beloved Hunter should make their way to Kemble (June 18/19th) where the 60th anniversary of the Hunters first flight will be commemorated. Should be a good one.

Hope this helps

Hunty :ok:

Well bugger me with a fishfork! 60th anniversary!

My first RAF logbook includes the following entry:

20 July 1976 Hunter F6A XJ634 Self - Hunter 25th anniversary flypast (escorting Neville Duke) 0:50

There were 4 x F6A flown by Tim Webb, Geoff Steggell, 'Puddy'Catt and myself; the T7 flew up from Dunsfold flown by Wg Cdr Neal and Neville Duke - we met it and escorted into Brawdy in a 5-ship vic, then out to initials and back in for the break. My thanks to whoever it was who had sufficient confidence that I wouldn't cock it up completely that I was allowed to be #3 in a 5-ship flat turn.....:hmm:

The press, however, were more interested in getting piccies of the Meteor F8 and one of the 'Strikemouse' JP4s in camouflage parked next to each other. We didn't make the news either as the Americans had just landed something on Mars, IIRC!

'They' thought at the time that we should keep quiet about having aircraft in service for 25 years......:ugh:

BEagle

Have you any photos of the event at Brawdy you could share with us?

Hunty :hmm:

The BBC one show have just done a piece on aircraft.

Might be worth catching on IPlayer.

I've just seen Dan Snow on the TV in a Hunter with another in the background in the Viper display team - in fact there's now a 3rd!

He's interviewing Eric 'Winkle' Brown.

Duncs:ok:

Yes, some excellent aerial shots of Hunters on "The One Show" (BBC1 at about 19:10)

Can anyone tell me, is it possible to have a flight in any of these magificent machines in exchange for a pecuniary disbursement? (or even if you pay for it?)